A rip cord is a parallel construction of two or more insulated conductors that may be easily separated, leaving the insulation of the conductors undisturbed.
A rip cord is a cable construction in which two or more insulated conductors are arranged in parallel and joined in a way that allows them to be pulled apart, or ripped, by hand. Separating the conductors leaves the insulation on each one intact, so they can be split apart for termination or routing without stripping or damaging the insulation. This makes rip cord constructions convenient to work with.
The term rip cord can also refer to a string included in a cable to help tear open the jacket for access to the conductors. In the parallel-conductor sense, the easy separability is the defining feature, suiting the construction to applications where conductors are routinely split for connection.
In commercial and industrial wiring, rip cord constructions provide convenient, separable conductors for light-duty power and signal applications. Recognizing the construction helps in understanding how such cable is handled and terminated.
Because separating the conductors leaves the insulation on each one intact, a rip cord construction is convenient to terminate and route, suiting it to light-duty applications where conductors are routinely split for connection without stripping or damaging the insulation.
Recognizing how easily separable conductors aid handling helps illustrate the range of cable constructions available for the light-duty power and signal connections of commercial and industrial systems.
At Windy City Wire, an understanding of cable constructions, including rip cord designs, reflects a focus on matching cable to its application. Recognizing how easily separable conductors aid handling helps illustrate the range of constructions available for commercial and industrial needs.